Dr. Khosla's Dental Centre - Mumbai dentists

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF DENTAL EXCELLENCE	DR. KHOSLA'S DENTAL CENTRE	ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFIED
Each tooth in a person's head is more valuable than a diamond	A2 AASHIRWAD, II CROSS LANE, LOKHANDWALA COMPLEX, ANDHERI (WEST), MUMBAI 400053, INDIA	TEL: 2636 3215 / 2633 5631 2632 8682 / 3082 7053 / 98193 63215

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are fixtures of titanium which are surgically screwed into your jaw bone. The implant is an anchor for a naturally-appearing false tooth or a set of false teeth. The success rate of dental implants depends on where the implants are placed and their purpose. They are typically best placed in the front portion of your lower jaw. Implants are great for replacing missing teeth. It is important that you have enough bone in the area of the missing teeth for the implants to be attached to. Implants are not only used to replace one tooth, but rather people missing most, if not all, of their teeth benefit greatly as well. Implants are increasingly being used to replace certain types of bridges and removable partial dentures.

Are you a candidate for dental implants?

If you're missing one tooth or all of your teeth, implants may well be for you. So long as you have enough bone in the area of the missing tooth to facilitate the anchorage of the implants, this procedure can yield terrific results. If you don't have enough bone for this purpose, a bone graft may be necessary. If you have a small dental bridge or partial dentures (removable type), implants will be a welcome alternative. Implants are an alternative to a fixed bridge. The implant will last a lifetime, but the crown on top of it will last ten to fifteen years.

Pros and Cons of Dental Implants

Advantages:

As our life span increases, a permanent dental replacement like implants is increasingly important as we get older. While dentures and removable bridges are usually loose and unstable, implants provide you with dental replacements that are both natural looking and very functional. Implants look much better, and feel better, than traditional removable bridges, and offer the same force for biting as bridges that are fixed in place. Implants will last your lifetime.

Dental implants have given countless patients many amazing benefits.

You will smile again
Improved appearance
Improved comfort
Improved speech
Eat better, enjoy more foods, better nutrition
Convenience
Improved self-esteem

Dental implants are also a great value for your investment. You will be getting a product that you will be using 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year, probably for many, many years of your life.

Disadvantages:

Implants are a major investment and not without risk. The extensive use of implants can cost tens of thousands of dollars to achieve a great result. It is also a very time consuming procedure when having many implants placed. As this procedure is surgery, it is very important to research and find a well credited cosmetic dentist that you are comfortable with. For some people there are varying degrees discomfort or pain, which subsides in a couple of days. As with similar types of surgery, bruising and minor swelling might also develop shortly after the procedure. The crown (false tooth placed on top) will need to be replaced in ten to fifteen years.

Endopore implants used at our Centre

Endopore implant in bone
Endopore implant Placement

Overview

Implants: These are the most modern method of replacing missing teeth. They are basically substitutes for the natural tooth roots. They are made of titanium and are usually cylindrical in size. They might be threaded from outside too to increase the initial grip inside the bone. Today implants are used fairly commonly in dentistry. They have a good success rate, and can sometimes mean the difference between a patient having teeth, or going without anything. They are especially good for people who cannot wear a full denture because they gag, or because of severe bone resorption. They can be used to replace individual missing teeth, and in situations in which a standard bridge would not work, such as replacing back teeth where no posterior abutment is available for a retainer. Research shows that 85 percent of people who wear full or partial dentures experience some related discomfort and difficulty. Dental implants can eliminate those problems, restore self-confidence and improve the quality of life.
The process involves a thorough dental and general examination. Intra oral and OPG X rays are required. The first stage surgery involves the placement of specific size and shape implants at strategic locations in the mouth. This is performed after anaesthetizing the patient and giving an incision. Using special drills holes are made inside the bone at the locations where implants are to be placed. After the completion of the procedure sutures are placed. These might be resorbable or non resorbable type. Usually the healing is uneventful as the patient is on the prescribed drugs. A slight swelling might occur near the area of operation. It takes 2-3 days to subside. A temporary restoration is placed for the time being.
After 4-6 months the second stage surgery is performed to give a punch hole and the implants are exposed. Metallic abutments are screwed on top of the implants. The last stage involves the placement of crowns, bridges or over dentures as the final prosthesis. Implants can also be placed immediately after extractions. Dental implants can last a lifetime and are an excellent investment in oral health provided a patient can invest time into it !.

Today implants are used fairly commonly in dentistry. They have a good success rate, and can sometimes mean the difference between a patient having teeth, or going without anything. They can be used to replace individual missing teeth, and in situations in which a standard bridge would not work, such as replacing back teeth where no posterior abutment is available for a retainer .They are especially good for people who cannot wear a full denture because they gag, or because of severe bone resorption. All the teeth can be either permanently fixed or could be used as an over denture.

Implants used at Dr. Khosla's Dental Centre

INNOVA ENDOPORE IMPLANTS

Endopore implants used at our Centre

PITT-EASY IMPLANTS

Pitt-Easy implants used at our Centre

HI-TEC IMPLANTS

HI-Tec implants used at our Centre

PROCEDURE

What exactly is an implant?
Dental Implant Procedure
A natural tooth has a crown - the part which shows above the gumline, and a root - the anchor hidden below the gumline.

When a tooth is missing, a dental implant takes the place of the missing root and a prosthetic crown replaces the natural crown.

The Implant Procedure
The implant procedure is the same whether one or all teeth are missing. In this example, there is only one missing lower tooth. For the purpose of demonstation we will assume the patient is healthy and is a candidate for this procedure.

Implant Site Preparation
The gum tissue is opened to expose the bone area where the implant will be placed. In situations where there is insufficient bone structure, bone grafting may be a recommended procedure.

Once healthy bone material has been established, a special drill is used to prepare the bone to receive the implant.

Placing the Implant
After the bone has been prepared, the implant is placed and the tissue is sutured.

The Healing Process - Osseointegration
The healing process takes three to six months. This is the amount of time it usually takes the implant to become part of the lower jaw, commonly refered to as osseointegration.

The sutures are typically removed however, seven to fourteen days after surgery.

Attaching the Post
When the gum tissue is ready, a special post is attached to the implant. It is the support for the new porcelain crown.

Today's technologies often include zirconium abutments attached to the implant post, to assure that the new porcelain tooth possesses translucency properties similar to a natural tooth.

Placing the Crown
After impressions are taken a crown is made and shaded to match your existing teeth. The crown is then slipped over the post and cemented.

The Completed Implant
The final prosthetic crown appears as a natural tooth.

Applications of Implant Dentistry
In many cases, dental implants are incorporated into an overall treatment plan that might focus on the replacement of several teeth.

Some patients have the option of replacing each affected tooth with a new implant, depending upon the condition of the bone.

Other treatment plans may recommend implants for anchoring bridges and dentures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Implants

Am I a candidate for dental implant/s?

If you are missing one or more teeth, then you may be a candidate for dental implants. A candidate for dental implants should be in a good state of health. You should inform your dentist of any systemic illness or condition that may adversely affect healing. Conditions such as diabetes may not prevent you from having dental implant surgery provided that the disease is being treated successfully. Any concerns that you may have regarding your medical history should be discussed with your dentist at the consultation appointment.

A candidate for dental implants should have enough high quality bone to support the implant(s). When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone begins to change and may slowly disappear. This slow process is called resorption. If the amount of resorption is slight, then a dental implant may be placed into the bone. However, if the amount of resorption is too great, there may be insufficient bone available to support the implant and bone grafting may be required prior to implant surgery. At the consultation appointment, a complete examination will be performed and you will be informed of the condition of your bone and the options you have with regard to dental implants.

Also if you are an inveterate paan or paan parag eater, less than good at maintaining oral hygeine,you should'nt consider implants.

What is the success rate of dental implants?

This depends very much on where the implants are placed and what they will be called upon to do. The best case scenario is the placement of implants in the front portion of the lower jaw. Here success can be as high as 98-100%.According to figures that we have today, the success of implants in the front part of the upper jaw are anywhere from 90-95%. Success rates of implants in the back part of the upper and lower jaw can be in the 85-90% range.

Why have dental implants become so popular?

As our lifespan increases, the need for some type of permanent dental replacement system becomes very important to our overall health. Dentures and removable bridges have obvious problems: They are loose and unstable. Implants can provide people with dental replacements that are both functional and esthetic. The demand was always there, we just needed the tools to fulfill that demand.

How long after a dental implant is placed can it be used to anchor my new teeth?

The protocol that was originally developed clearly states that we must wait four months before we can begin to construct the new dental prosthesis that will be supported by the implants. In recent years, however, there has been a movement within the profession to sort of speed up this process. Today we believe that it is possible in selected patients to accelerate the healing time. We are even loading implants in very specific situations right away.

Does it hurt to have dental implants placed?

The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three or four hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems. Some patients do have varying degrees of pain or discomfort which may last for several days. Swelling and black & blueing may also develop.

Do I have to go without my teeth & while the implants are bonding to my jaw bone?

Once again, the original protocol called for patients to go without wearing their dentures for at least two weeks after implant placement. Over the years, this has been modified considerably and in most situations, patients leave the office wearing their teeth the day the implants are placed. Every patient and procedure is evaluated separately and there might occasionally be a recommendation that a patient go without their prosthesis for a short period of time.

PRE TREATMENT	IMPLANT IN PLACE	PROSTHESIS IN PLACE	AFTER 6 MONTHS

RELATED NEWS ITEM

Dental Implants for Replacing Natural Teeth Attracting More Senior Citizens - Oct 24, 2007 (Senior Journal)